All Black for the Drop Goal

During the 2007 World Cup, New Zealand lost to France in a quarter final by a scoreline of 18-20, having spurned several good opportunities to go for a winning drop goal late in the match.

It transpired that the All Blacks had placed no real priority on drop goal routines, preferring to back themselves to win by scoring tries. Given that some crucial matches had been determined by drop goals - not least the previous final in 2003 - this seemed a tactical oversight. Now, a new article in The Rugby Paper suggest that the New Zealanders were again at the forefront of a new trend in the game.

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/26681/with-high-risk-of-a-charge-down-the-drop-goal-is-now-a-dying-art/

Drop-goals are fast becoming as redundant as the dive pass and sub-six foot centres, a relic of a bygone age when fly-halves – and No.8s for that matter, if you bring Zinzan Brooke into the equation – prided themselves on the art. You are just as likely to see a game that lasts for 80 minutes as you are a drop-goal, at club or international level.

For the first time in the history of the World Cup the number of drops scored fell into single figures at England 2015, while there was just one in the 15 matches of this year’s Six Nations campaign. The Premiership had just four successfully struck, from a miserly 24 attempts, over the entirety of the 132-game regular season. To put it into context, London Irish once got four in a match.

Since hitting a peak of 73 in the 2001/02 season, the drop-goal trend has consistently been downward give or take one or two anomalies.

One factor is that kickers are no longer going for a drop when the referee awards a penalty advantage. Andy Goode says he used to do so, because it gave him two chances at getting the three points. These days, sides seem to prefer looking to work a try instead, in the knowledge that they will have at least a chance at goal if it doesn't come off. Dave Walder points out that referees often used to call advantage over after only a few phases, so the free shot was the better option. Now, officials play longer advantages, almost always going back if no try is scored.

Another factor cited is the way more fly halves are inclined to take the ball to the line, which means they are often not in the pocket to go for goal.

Exeter attack coach Ali Hepher has an interesting take, especially since his side didn't try for a drop when they lost to Wasps last season in Europe.

“Attacks are better as a whole so therefore the chances of you scoring five points through a try, or hanging onto the ball longer and putting pressure on the opposition to get a penalty are higher. Ultimately, the side that scores the most tries wins 75 per cent of matches.

“In our quarter-final against Wasps, we were within a yard from scoring a try and then we got turned over. A few people afterwards said we should have gone for a drop-goal but I disagreed, when you’re that close, you have to back yourself to score a try.

“At the right time and in the right scenario, a drop-goal can be useful. The only thing that worries me with drop-goals is charge downs. Sides are much, much better at putting you under pressure in that respect. Maybe that’s down to the improved fitness with players getting off the line quicker. In no time at all, you can go from one 22 to another if you get charged down.”

Still, if someone on your team can do this, then it's a pretty handy weapon to have in your armoury.

What a legend Wilkinson was. Worth noting even there with a successful drop goal, the main problem is highlighted, Farrell was off side straight away when he saw the dg was on, ref didn't notice so the kickers under a lot more pressure and it takes a lot of skill to make the kick. With player fitness + offsides less monitored a dg is very risky.

I have to say that this makes me very sad, and it is possibly a case of 'more fool you' to those that don't bother with it. I can see why teams may prefer to attack - but the drop goal should in my view remain a tool in the box (admittedly my view is uneducated, based purely on opinion not careful analysis - but hey, this is a forum). Why?

1. As an England fan I can remember too many occasions they have been so damned useful - knocking Aus out of the world cup in 95 (SA also winning it with one that year) and of course winning in 03 as well as being totally undone by Jannie de Beers whopping 5 drop goals in 99. Plus as a Tigers fan I can remember that semi final in Cardiff...

2. A good drop goal helps you score tries. No really, it does. If the opposition know that sooner or later you can and will knock a drop goal over it forces them to push it a bit harder with their defence and risk making mistakes - which can then be exploited. I have seen several defences rattled by a good drop goal early on back in the day that they happened more frequently.

3. A lot of games between top teams are decided by very narrow margins - and often in these games teams spend a lot of time close to the opposition goal line without getting a score due to being up against a top notch defence. These are precisely the sort of games you need to win if you want to be the best. Being able to reliably score 3 points in the opposition 22 even when their defence refuses to yield can be the difference. Why spurn that!!

Wilkinson wasn't that good because he was Wilkinson, he was that good because he worked blinking hard at it! I'd like to see more FHs doing that now.

ROG was another proponent of the drop goal, its what got us over the line in 09 for the Grand Slam and he won Munster their fair share of games with it.

I remember the Munster Saints game about 5 years ago when he won the game with a late drop goal, he dummied it a few times and it left the Saints disjointed at times and guys in defence were second guessing

Good point Marty. Pretty sure ROG saved Ireland against Italy a few years later with a last minute drop goal as well. Less fun to remember perhaps, but I suspect it was hugely appreciated by the squad!

I'd be very sad to see the death of the drop goal.

I don't know about nowadays, but growing up playing rugby, even as an openside, it was one of those skills that everyone wished they could do, and dreamt of pulling off in a game. Sadly I never did manage even an attempt during a match.

There's something special about a snap drop goal that really buoys you up, almost more so than a try. I think it's the fact that you could be getting absolutely nowhere in attack but then up steps whoever and BANG, you've come away with 3 points.

As a Glasgow fan, I wouldn't say I'd swap the mercurial, exciting, running rugby of Finn Russell for Dan Parks' kicking game, however I do wish FR had Dan's boot to add to his armoury. DP saved us with drop goals on a number of occasions, including 4 in one match against Ulster at Firhill if I recall correctly.

I always thought a fullback who could drop the anvil from 45-50m away was a huge boon for the side. A guy like Frans Steyn for example. When teams played us in 2009, they were weary of kicking for distance when under the cosh because they knew that meant if they didn't clear the back three, they were at his mercy, even from 50-60m out. Which forced these teams to adopt more conservative measures to get the ball out of their danger areas, which meant even without the ball, we were generally playing the game in areas we didnt mind playing

Anyone else see the Gloucester game tonight? Scores tied at 23 all for the last 10 minutes & despite oodles of pressure in the Worcester 22, including some incredibly central positions not a single player even looked like they were contemplating stepping back into the pocket. End result, a draw.

Truly a lost art.